Split tank system for a toilet

ABSTRACT

A flush system for a flush toilet in which an auxiliary tank is positioned in the main tank and which is operated according to a fluid pressure system. The auxiliary tank has a bottom wall which is spaced above the bottom of the main tank and has a fluid port on the bottom wall and a one-way valve in the top wall thereof. With the one-way valve closed, air can flow out of the auxiliary tank but cannot flow into the auxiliary tank. An air conduit is connected at one end thereof to a selector valve on the flush handle on the toilet and is fluidically connected to the auxiliary tank at the other end thereof. When the selector valve is opened, operation of the flush handle will permit air to flow into the auxiliary tank whereby water can flow out of the auxiliary tank during a flush cycle. However, if the selector valve is closed, the auxiliary tank is closed and air cannot flow into the auxiliary tank so water will not flow out of that tank during the flush cycle.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toilets (sometimes referred to as“water closets”). More particularly, the present invention relates totoilets having a tank for providing flush water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Flush toilets are in widespread use throughout the world for disposingof both fluid and solid waste. The standard construction for suchtoilets is to provide a holding tank for the water to be used in aflush, from which the water is fully discharged each time the toilet isflushed. The amount of water in the holding tank is selected to besufficient to dispose of solid waste deposited into the toilet bowl.This requires a relatively large quantity of water. For disposal offluid waste only, however, utilizing the full contents of the holdingtank is wasteful, since fluid wastes can be disposed of with a muchlower volume of water. Toilets serve admirably as an efficient andsanitary means to dispose of waste material. As can be understood,toilets operate upon a flush cycle, wherein waste disposal is performedwith the accompaniment of a large quantity of water, usually on theorder of three, four or more gallons.

As population densities have increased, the demands upon available watersupplies have become quite substantial. Indeed, periodically, certainlocales are subject to water rationing, wherein flushing of the toiletis requested to be performed only infrequently. Some localities, such asthe State of California, which may be subject to periodic droughtconditions, and jurisdictions have even resorted to penalties forexcessive water usage during certain periods. Such a request and/orrequirements not only subjects the toilet user to odor, but potentiallyalso to disease due to the stagnancy of pre-used bowl water.Accordingly, a solution to the water demands of toilet flushing witheach toilet use would be extremely desirable for both personal andecological reasons. Although various measures attempting to utilizewater more efficiently and thus reduce its overall consumption have beensuggested, the total amount of water used still remains much too high.Moreover, it is projected that water shortage may become more acute inthe future.

One “popular” notion to reduce the amount of flush water needed is toplace an object in the tank, such as a water filled plastic milkcontainer, the volume of which diminishes the water volume in the tank.While this sounds not only feasible but practical, one must considerwhy, in the first place, the toilet manufacturer designed the tank tohold a specified amount of flush water. First, there must be enoughflush water to move solid waste in the bowl out of the toilet and intothe sanitary drain. Second, there must be still more flush water toflush out the dirty bowl water while at the same time rinsing the bowlclean. Thirdly, there must be enough flush water left over to provide anadequate depth of water at the trap located at the bottom portion of thebowl so that the sanitary drain is fluidically cut-off from the bowl tothereby prevent methane and other sewer gases from backing-up into thebowl, and, thereupon, into the restroom. Thus, reducing the amount offlush water by simply reducing the water stored in the tank may resultin insufficient water to properly flush the bowl. More potentiallydisastrous, is that over time an accumulation of solid waste may becomelodged in the sanitary drain, plugging the drain and resulting inback-ups because repeatedly too little flush water was available to movethe solid waste out the local sanitary drain and into the main sanitarydrain.

Therefore, efforts to conserve water including efforts to reduce theamount of water consumed in a flush toilet each time the flush mechanismis operated which simply employ devices for limiting the amount of waterin the tank so that a lower volume of water is used each time the toiletis flushed frequently result in unsatisfactory disposal of solid waste.This may often make it is necessary to flush such a low water volumetoilet more than once in order to dispose of solid wastes. This defeatsthe purpose of the low volume. Such toilets generally do not have anyproblem in disposing of purely liquid waste.

In efforts to alleviate the problems associated with simply reducing thewater level every time a toilet is flushed, dual flush toilet deviceshave been designed. These toilets are selectively operated to use thefull volume water available for solid waste disposal, and to use alesser volume of water for liquid waste disposal.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved dual flush controlsystem for releasing different amounts of water from the holding tank ofa toilet into a discharge pipe opening in the bottom of the holdingtank, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, which issimple in construction, easy to install and simple to operate.

Still further, many existing water closet systems are wasteful of waterand could benefit from being modified to conduct partial flushes whenappropriate. However, such systems will not be retrofit if it is costlyto do so and thus any retrofit system should be easy and efficient toinstall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by aflush system for a flush toilet in which an auxiliary tank is positionedin the main tank and which is operated according to a fluid pressuresystem. The auxiliary tank has a bottom wall which is spaced above thebottom of the main tank and has a fluid port on the bottom wall and aone-way valve in the top wall thereof. With the one-way valve closed,air can flow out of the auxiliary tank but cannot flow into theauxiliary tank. Therefore, when the one-way valve is closed, water canflow into the tank through the fluid port, but cannot flow back out ofthe auxiliary tank via the fluid port because air pressure in theauxiliary tank will prevent the water from flowing out of the fluidport. An air conduit is connected at one end thereof to a selector valveon the flush handle on the toilet and is fluidically connected to theauxiliary tank at the other end thereof. When the selector valve isopened, operation of the flush handle will permit air to flow into theauxiliary tank whereby water can flow out of the auxiliary tank during aflush cycle. However, if the selector valve is closed, the auxiliarytank is closed and air cannot flow into the auxiliary tank so water willnot flow out of that tank during the flush cycle. The one-way valveallows air to pass out of the auxiliary tank but prevents air frompassing into the auxiliary tank whereby water can flow into theauxiliary tank during a filling cycle of the water closet.

Using the flush system embodying the present invention will permitpartial or full flushes to be executed and will also permit easyretrofitting of existing systems.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention willbe, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art uponexamination of the following figures and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, features, andadvantages be included within this description, be within the scope ofthe invention, and be protected by the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The invention can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and description. The components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, likereferenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a split tank for a flush-type toiletembodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an auxiliary tank included in the toiletembodying the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the presentinvention is embodied in a water-saving toilet 10 which can be easilyadjusted to accommodate full or partial flushes. Toilet 10 comprises awater closet flush water storage tank 12 which is associated with awater closet system 14 having the usual toilet bowl and associatedplumbing as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Tank 12 isknown per se and includes a first wall 16 which is a front wall when thestorage tank is in use as indicated in the figure and a second wall 18which is a bottom wall when the storage tank is in use. Second wall 18has an inner surface 20.

A water outlet port 30 is defined through the second wall and isfluidically connected with a bowl 32 which will contain waste productswhen in use as is the known case. A flush mechanism 40 is used tooperate toilet 10 in a known manner and includes a flush operatinghandle 42 pivotally mounted on the storage tank and which is pivoted toinitiate a flush cycle for the water closet.

Flush mechanism 40 further includes a flapper valve 44 which is locatedadjacent to outlet port 30. The flapper valve is movable between aclosed position shown in the figure in which water outlet port 30 isoccluded and an open position in which water outlet port 30 is open sowater can flow therethrough out of water storage tank 12 during aflushing operation.

An actuator arm 50 includes a first end 52 connected to the flushoperating handle to be moved when the flush operating handle is pivotedand a second end 54 which is connected to a chain 56 which connectssecond end 54 to flapper valve 44 to move the flapper valve from theclosed position shown in FIG. 1 to the open position when the flushoperating handle is pivoted. An auxiliary tank unit 60 is located insidethe water closet flush water storage tank and includes a water storagetank 62 which has a first wall 64 which is a top wall when the auxiliarytank unit is in place in the water closet flush water storage tank asshown in FIG. 1 and a second wall 66 which is a bottom wall when theauxiliary tank unit is in place in the water closet flush water storagetank.

A water port 68 is defined through bottom wall 66 through which waterpasses into and out of water storage tank 62 as indicated in FIG. 2 bydouble-headed arrow 70. A first air port 80 is defined through top wall64 though which air passes out of water storage tank 62 as indicated inFIG. 2 by arrow 82 to allow water to flow into the tank 62 to fill thattank as will be understood from the teaching of the this disclosure.

A second air port 86 is defined through top wall 64 though which airpasses into water storage tank 62 as indicated in FIG. 2 by arrow 88 topermit water to flow out of tank 62 during a full flush in which waterstored in tank 62 is combined with water stored in tank 12. As can beunderstood, as will be understood from the teaching of this disclosure,since air cannot flow into tank 62 via port 80, without air passing intotank 62 via port 86, air pressure in tank 62 will prevent water fromflowing out of tank 62 via port 68.

A mounting element, such as legs 90 or the like, mounts tank 62 onbottom wall 18 of water closet flush water storage tank 12 so thatbottom wall 66 of water storage tank 62 is spaced apart from innersurface 20 of bottom wall 18 of water closet flush water storage tank12. A one-way valve 100 is located in first air port 80. One-way valve100 is oriented to permit air to flow out of water storage tank 62through air port 80 as indicated by arrow 82, but to prevent air fromflowing into water storage tank 62 via air port 80. In one form of theinvention, one-way valve 100 is a reed valve.

An auxiliary tank unit operating mechanism 110 includes a selectorelement 112, such as a button, movably on flush handle 42. Selectorelement 112 is movable into an open position and a closed position. Theselector element is normally in the closed position and is biased towardthe closed position by a spring or the like surrounding a shaft on thebutton. The button must be pushed against the bias of the spring to movethe button into the open position. Alternatively, cam mechanisms on thebutton can automatically move the button into the open position and thencooperate with other cam elements to automatically move the button backinto the closed position. The exact details of the mechanism for movingthe selector element between the open and closed positions are notimportant to the present invention and those skilled in the art will beable to design such mechanisms based on the teaching of the presentdisclosure.

Selector element 112 has an air passage 114 defined therethrough. Airpassage 114 is open when the selector element is in the open positionand closed when the selector element is in the closed position. Suitableair passage occluding and opening elements, such as balls, springs andthe like, are included in the selector element to achieve this functionas will be understood by those skilled in the art.

A biasing element such as described above, is on the selector elementbiasing the element toward the closed position, and is indicated in FIG.1 by reference indicator 116. An air flow tube 130 has one end 132fluidically connected with the selector element to receive air passingthrough the selector element when the selector element is in the openposition and a second end 134 fluidically connected to second air port86, as by an elbow connector 136, or the like to allow air to pass intowater storage tank 62 when the selector element is in the open position.

Use and operation of the system embodying the present invention can beunderstood from the teaching of the foregoing disclosure and thus willonly be briefly presented. Filling the main tank and the auxiliary tankis accomplished in the well known manner with water flowingsimultaneously into the main tank and into the auxiliary tank becauseair can pass out of one-way valve 100 so water can flow into auxiliarytank 62. The flush handle is operated in the normal manner to conduct apartial flush in which case, the selector valve is not opened so airwill not flow into the auxiliary tank and thus water will not flow outof that tank. To conduct a full flush, the selector element is operatedon the flush handle to open that selector valve and fluidically connectthe flush handle to the auxiliary tank and thus allow air to pass intothe auxiliary tank via the selector element. When the flush handle isoperated, water will flow out of the main tank via the flapper valve andwill also flow out of the auxiliary tank because that tank is now openso air will flow into the auxiliary tank to permit water to flow out ofthe tank via the outlet port thereon. With air flowing into theauxiliary tank, water will flow out of the outlet port thereby allowinga full flush. The auxiliary tank will be filled when the main tank isfilled because water will flow into the auxiliary tank via the waterport 68 in the bottom wall and air will flow out of the auxiliary tankvia one-way valve 100 and air outlet port 80.

It is also noted that the flush handle need not be a manually operatedelement, but can be an automatic unit in which case the selector elementcan be located spaced apart from the automatic unit.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of thisinvention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except inlight of the attached claims and their equivalents.

1. A water-saving toilet comprising: A) a water closet flush waterstorage tank which is associated with a water closet system and whichincludes (1) a first wall which is a front wall when the storage tank isin use, (2) a second wall which is a bottom wall when the storage tankis in use, the second wall having an inner surface, and (3) a wateroutlet port defined through the second wall and which is fluidicallyconnected with a bowl which will contain waste products when in use; B)a flush mechanism which includes (1) a flush operating handle connectedto the storage tank and which is operated to initiate a flush cycle fora water closet, (2) a flapper valve which is located adjacent to theoutlet port defined through the second wall of the water closet flushwater storage tank, the flapper valve being movable between a closedposition in which the water outlet port defined through the second wallof the water storage tank is occluded and an open position in which thewater outlet port defined through the second wall of the water storagetank is open so water can flow therethrough out of the water storagetank, and (3) an actuator arm which includes (a) a first end connectedto the flush operating handle to be moved when the flush operatinghandle is pivoted, and (b) a second end which is connected to theflapper valve associated with the water outlet port defined through thesecond wall of the water closet flush water storage tank to move theflapper valve from the closed position to the open position when theflush operating handle is pivoted; C) an auxiliary tank unit locatedinside the water closet flush water storage tank and including (1) awater storage tank having (a) a first wall which is a top wall when theauxiliary tank unit is in place in the water closet flush water storagetank, (b) a second wall which is a bottom wall when the auxiliary tankunit is in place in the water closet flush water storage tank, (c) awater port defined through the bottom wall through which water passesinto and out of the water storage tank of the auxiliary tank unit, (d) afirst air port defined through the top wall of the water storage tank ofthe auxiliary tank unit though which air passes out of the water storagetank of the auxiliary tank unit, and (e) a second air port definedthrough the top wall of the water storage tank of the auxiliary tankunit though which air passes into the water storage tank of theauxiliary tank unit, (2) a mounting element mounting the water storagetank of the auxiliary tank unit on the bottom wall of the water closetflush water storage tank so that the bottom wall of the water storagetank of the auxiliary tank unit is spaced apart from the inner surfaceof the bottom wall of the water closet flush water storage tank, and (3)a one-way valve located in the first air port defined through the topwall of the water storage tank of the auxiliary tank unit, the one-wayvalve being oriented to permit air to flow out of the water storage tankof the auxiliary tank unit through the air port, but to prevent air fromflowing into the water storage tank of the auxiliary tank unit via theair port; and D) an auxiliary tank unit operating mechanism whichincludes (1) a selector element movably on the flush handle, theselector element being movable between an open position and a closedposition, the selector element having an air passage definedtherethrough, the air passage being open when the selector element is inthe open position and closed when the selector element is in the closedposition, (2) a biasing element on the selector element biasing theelement toward the closed position, and (3) an air flow tube having oneend fluidically connected with the selector element to receive airpassing through the selector element when the selector element is in theopen position, and a second end fluidically connected to the second airport defined through the top wall of the water storage tank of theauxiliary tank unit to allow air to pass into the water storage tank ofthe auxiliary tank when the selector element is in the open position. 2.The water-saving toilet defined in claim 1 wherein the one-way valvelocated in the first air port defined through the top wall of the waterstorage tank of the auxiliary tank unit is a reed valve.
 3. Awater-saving toilet comprising: A) a water closet flush water storagetank which is associated with a water closet system and which includes awall which is a bottom wall when the storage tank is in use, the wallhaving an inner surface; B) a flush mechanism which includes a flushoperating handle connected on the storage tank and which is used toinitiate a flush cycle for a water closet; C) an auxiliary tank unitlocated inside the water closet flush water storage tank and whichincludes (1) a water storage tank having (a) a first wall which is a topwall when the auxiliary tank unit is in place in the water closet flushwater storage tank, (b) a second wall which is a bottom wall when theauxiliary tank unit is in place in the water closet flush water storagetank, (c) a water port defined through the bottom wall through whichwater passes into and out of the water storage tank of the auxiliarytank unit, (d) a first air port defined through the top wall of thewater storage tank of the auxiliary tank unit though which air passesout of the water storage tank of the auxiliary tank unit, and (e) asecond air port defined through the top wall of the water storage tankof the auxiliary tank unit though which air passes into the waterstorage tank of the auxiliary tank unit, (2) a mounting element mountingthe water storage tank of the auxiliary tank unit on the bottom wall ofthe water closet flush water storage tank so that the bottom wall of thewater storage tank of the auxiliary tank unit is spaced apart from theinner surface of the bottom wall of the water closet flush water storagetank, and (3) a one-way valve located in the first air port definedthrough the top wall of the water storage tank of the auxiliary tankunit, the one-way valve being oriented to permit air to flow out of thewater storage tank of the auxiliary tank unit through the air port, butto prevent air from flowing into the water storage tank of the auxiliarytank unit via the air port; and D) an auxiliary tank unit operatingmechanism which includes (1) a selector element movably on the flushhandle, the selector element being movable into an open position and aclosed position, the selector element having an air passage definedtherethrough, the air passage being open when the selector element is inthe open position and closed when the selector element is in the closedposition, (2) a biasing element on the selector element biasing theelement toward the closed position, and (3) an air flow tube having oneend fluidically connected with the selector element to receive airpassing through the selector element when the selector element is in theopen position, and a second end fluidically connected to the second airport defined through the top wall of the water storage tank of theauxiliary tank unit to allow air to pass into the water storage tank ofthe auxiliary tank when the selector element is in the open position. 4.A water-saving toilet comprising: A) a water closet flush water storagetank which is associated with a water closet system and which includes awall which is a bottom wall when the storage tank is in use, the wallhaving an inner surface; B) a flush mechanism which includes a flushoperating handle connected to the storage tank and which is used toinitiate a flush cycle for a water closet; C) an auxiliary tank unitlocated inside the water closet flush water storage tank and whichincludes (1) an auxiliary water storage tank mounted in the water closetflush water storage tank to be spaced apart from the bottom wall of thewater closet flush water storage tank, (2) a water port defined throughthe bottom wall of the auxiliary water storage tank, (3) an air inletport defined in the auxiliary water storage tank, and (4) an air outletport defined in the auxiliary water storage tank, and (5) a one-wayvalve on the air outlet port which permits air to pass out of theauxiliary water storage tank via the air outlet port but prevents airfrom passing into the auxiliary water storage tank via the air outletport; D) an auxiliary tank unit operating mechanism which includes (1) aselector element mounted on the water closet flush water storage tank,the selector element being mounted to be movable between a closedposition and an open position, (2) a conduit connecting the selectorelement to the air inlet valve on the auxiliary water storage tank, airpassing through the conduit and into the auxiliary water storage tankvia the air inlet port when the selector element is in the openposition, the air inlet port being occluded when the selector element isin the closed position to prevent air from entering the auxiliary waterstorage tank via the air inlet port when the selector element is in theclosed position; E) whereby when the selector element is in the openposition air is permitted to flow into the auxiliary water storage tankvia the air inlet port so that water can flow out of the auxiliary waterstorage tank via the water port, and, when the selector element isclosed, air pressure in the auxiliary water storage tank prevents waterfrom flowing out of the auxiliary water storage tank; and F) whereby airis permitted to flow out of the auxiliary water storage tank via the airoutlet port so that water will be permitted to flow into the auxiliarywater storage tank via the water port to fill the auxiliary waterstorage tank.